USMNT vs. Panama: Match Recap & Highlights

AUSTIN, Texas (Oct. 12, 2024) – New head coach Mauricio Pochettino earned a debut win and midfielder Yunus Musah celebrated his first worldwide purpose because the U.S. Males’s Nationwide Crew defeated Panama, 2-0, in Saturday’s Hispanic Heritage Match, introduced by AT&T.

The pleasant performed earlier than a crowd of 20,239at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, marked the auspicious begin of a brand new period for the USMNT, which took the sector underneath Pochettino for the primary time. The famend Argentine supervisor, who was appointed final month, turned the fourth coach in U.S. Soccer’s fashionable period to win his debut match, becoming a member of Bora Milutinovic (1991), Bob Bradley (2007) and Gregg Berhalter (2019).

The victory, capped by a stoppage-time strike from native Texan Ricardo Pepi, snapped the USA’s four-game winless run in addition to its two-game skid towards Panama. Los Canaleros eradicated the Individuals within the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup semifinals on penalties, then overcame a 10-man USMNT, 2-1, in the course of the group stage of this summer season’s Copa América.

The end result additionally lifted the USA’s report in Austin to an ideal 5-0-0, with every win coming by shutout.

Pochettino’s first beginning XI included just a few intriguing wrinkles, led by the tandem of 22-year-old middle midfielders Gianluca Busio and Aiden Morris that anchored the USA’s 4-2-3-1. Musah, whose nationwide staff minutes had sometimes been spent within the center, was larger and on the best. Christian Pulisic patrolled the left flank and Brenden Aaronson performed beneath striker Josh Sargent, who began for the primary time because the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Veteran middle again Tim Ream captained the aspect and have become the tenth USMNT discipline participant to earn a cap after turning 37, and the primary since Preki in 2001.

The hosts started the sport at a excessive tempo and by placing Los Canaleros underneath excessive strain, and Pulisic and left again Antonee Robinson created a pair promising seems to be within the opening moments. Though the Individuals held many of the ball in the course of the first half and created 4 nook kicks to Panama’s one, clear scoring probabilities have been at a premium till the closing minutes of the interval.

Pulisic created the primary one with a wise, Thirty ninth-minute steal in midfield after which a by ball to Aaronson, whose 18-yard blast was parried away by Panama’s Orlando Mosquera. Two minutes later, Sargent latched onto a deflected cross from Busio however ripped his eight-yard bid over the crossbar.

The ball didn’t go in, however the USA was beginning to threaten and the inevitable purpose got here from an unlikely supply. Regardless of making a substantial affect over his first 41 nationwide staff matches, Musah hadn’t scored in a U.S. jersey. However when Pulisic and Aaronson carved open the Panamanian protection within the forty ninth minute, Musah raced towards purpose like a seasoned finisher. Pulisic’s cross from the left was knee excessive and Musah beat Mosquera to the ball and volleyed it residence.

It was Musah’s first purpose of any type since January 2022, when he scored for Valencia in a La Liga recreation at Atlético Madrid. The help was Pulisic’s seventh purpose contribution (4 targets, 3 assists) in six profession video games towards Panama.

U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner preserved the host’s benefit within the 52nd with an excellent, one-handed save on a shot from Panama’s Yoel Bárcenas, after which a fast restoration to disclaim Puma Rodríguez on the rebound.

Either side substituted closely within the last 25 minutes, as is typical in friendlies. Panama’s greatest probability to equalize was missed within the 87th by substitute ahead José Fajardo, who had scored the winner on the Copa América. He lunged at a deep cross that had curled behind the American middle backs, however shanked his shot broad proper.

A trio of U.S. reserves killed off the sport within the 94th minute. Malik Tillman fed Haji Wright close to the left nook of the penalty space, and his cross reached Pepi in entrance of purpose. The PSV Eindhoven striker made no mistake along with his first-time shot and notched his eleventh USMNT purpose.

The USA’s 2024 report improved to 4-5-2 and its benefit within the all-time sequence towards Panama elevated to 18-3-7.

The October worldwide window will proceed and conclude with a visit to Guadalajara for Tuesday night time’s pleasant towards host Mexico (10:30 p.m. ET; TNT, Max and Fútbol de Primera Radio). Pochettino’s second recreation in cost would be the first pleasant between the bitter rivals on Mexican soil since August 2012. That match on the Estadio Azteca proved historic, as defender Michael Orozco’s late purpose lifted the U.S. to a 1-0 win and its first victory over El Tri in 25 video games in Mexico.

GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN

USA – Yunus Musah (Christian Pulisic), forty ninth minute: Antonee Robinson ran down a ball on the left wing, bypassed a Panamanian defender and fed Pulisic close to the left nook of the penalty space. A fast give-and-go with Brenden Aaronson freed Pulisic close to the endline, and his cross was volleyed residence from 5 yards by a charging Musah. USA 1, PAN 0

USA – Ricardo Pepi (Haji Wright), ninetieth minute + 4: Malik Tillman gained Matt Turner’s lengthy free kick and despatched the ball towards the left nook of the penalty space and a wide-open Haji Wright. He hit a wise, one-time cross and Pepi did the remainder, sending an eight-yard shot by Panama’s Orlando Mosquera legs and over the road. USA 2, PAN 0 FINAL

-U.S. MEN’s Nationwide staff match report-

Match: United States Males’s Nationwide Crew vs. Panama
Date: October 12, 2024
Competitors: Worldwide Pleasant
Venue: Q2 Stadium; Austin, Texas
Attendance: 20,239
Kickoff: 8:07 native (9:07 p.m. ET)
Climate: 84 levels; clear

Lineups:
USA: 1-Matt Turner; 22-Joe Scally, 4-Mark McKenzie, 13-Tim Ream (Capt.), 5-Antonee Robinson (23-Kristoffer Lund, 67); 14-Gianluca Busio (15-Tanner Tessmann, 67), 7-Aidan Morris,; 6-Yunus Musah (21-Alex Zendejas, 85), 11-Brenden Aaronson (17-Malik Tillman, 78), 10-Christian Pulisic (19-Haji Wright, 67); 24-Josh Sargent (9-Ricardo Pepi, 67)
Substitutes not used: 16-Patrick Schulte, 18-Ethan Horvath, 2-Auston Trusty, 8-Weston McKennie, 12-Miles Robinson, 20-Brandon Vazquez
Head coach: Mauricio Pochettino

PAN: 22-Orlando Mosquera; 4-Fidel Escobar, 24-Edgardo Fariña (14-Jiovany Ramos, 61), 25-Roderick Miller (5-Abdiel Ayarza, 78); 23-Michael Murillo, 6-Cristian Martínez (16-Carlos Harvey, 70), 8-Adalberto Carrasquilla (20-Aníbal Godoy, 70), 2-César Blackman; 10-Edgar Bárcenas (Capt.) (13-Freddy Góndola, 70), 9-Eduardo Guerrero (17-José Fajardo, 69), 7-José Luis Rodríguez
Substitutes not used: 1-John Gunn, 12-César Samudio, 11-Tomás Rodríguez, 18-Ricardo Phillips, 19-Iván Anderson, 26-Kahiser Lenis
Head coach: Thomas Christiansen

Stats Abstract: USA / PAN
Pictures: 11 / 13
Pictures on Aim: 4 / 3
Saves: 3 / 2
Nook Kicks: 6 / 5
Fouls: 8 / 9
Offside: 2 / 3

Misconduct Abstract:
None

Officers:
Referee: Katia Garcia (MEX)
Assistant Referee 1: Sandra Ramirez (MEX)
Assistant Referee 2: Karen Diaz (MEX)
4th Official: Cesar Ramos (MEX)

Michelob Extremely Man of the Match: Mark McKenzie